Valerie Oks Use Of Name

SANTA MONICA, CALIF. — Valerie Harper, who was replaced on the television series ``Valerie,``

has agreed to allow Lorimar Productions and NBC to use her name in the new series ``Valerie`s Family.``

The agreement reached Thursday allows the use of the actress` name for the 1987-88 season and precludes a preliminary injunction she had sought in Superior Court to force the companies to change the name on the new series.

``This isn`t a vendetta,`` Harper said. ``I`m not trying to sink the show. I got what I wanted. My real concern was the long-term misuse of my name.``

Under the agreement, Lorimar and Harper will hire a ``rent-a-judge`` to preside over a jury trial by April 20 on a breach-of-contract suit filed against Lorimar by Harper and her husband-producer, Tony Cacciotti.

The suit claims Lorimar violated Harper`s contract by firing her in August after she refused to tape the ``Valerie`` series because of a salary dispute.

Lorimar, which sells the series to NBC, contends in court documents it had to fire Harper because of her ``disruptive`` behavior and her ``hysteria, combativeness and paranoia`` over whether NBC would renew the show for another season.